John 15:2
January 19, 2012 Leave a Comment
Good morning friends,
Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit.
Now this is a bit of a sticky verse to unpack. We must strongly affirm that salvation is by faith alone in Christ alone. We have to stand firmly concerning the security of the believer. However, the lack of “fruit” appears to being into question ones actually being in Christ. Finally we must affirm that one who truly belongs to Christ cannot defer until later making Him Lord. We begin with the phrase “in me” so we are speaking here of those who positionally in Christ. We will see in several verses the phrase used “not abide in me” in juxtaposition to “abiding in Christ.”The next thing we will notice is that those who are “in Christ” are to bear fruit. We see here and in other places in the New Testament that the reality exists that those in Christ will exhibit true works in accordance with being in Christ. The phrase “he takes away” can mean “to make doubt.” In other words the lack of fruit can (should) make one doubt whether they are truly in Christ or not. We of course will think of James 2:24 at this point : “You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone.” We are not saved by our works, but our salvation will automatically necessitate works on our part. We see as well that as we do bear fruit we will be pruned so as to bear more fruit. It is the process of the vinedresser to cleanse and prune the “vine” to maximize production. It is not that the vinedresser is fruit greedy, it is that fruit production is the purpose of the vine – the reason it was created and in that there is true beauty. The bottom line is that those who are “in Christ” will produce fruit and the vinedresser will ensure that the production of fruit will increase as He intended.
Bill
Heidelberg Catechism
Q. 29. Why is the Son of God called “Jesus”, that is a Saviour?
A. Because he saveth us, and delivereth us from our sins; (a) and likewise, because we ought not to seek, neither can find salvation in any other. (b) (a) Matt.1:21; Heb.7:24,25. (b) Acts 4:12; John 15:4,5; 1 Tim.2:5; Isa.43:11; 1 John 5:11.
